Systems and Methods for Grinding

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for grinding are provided. In one embodiment, systems and methods for grinding are provided having a floating or self-adjusting dust collector or means. This allows the dust collector or guard to adjust its position relative its support member to allow for uninterrupted grinding operations as the grinding element(s) wear away. Biasing and guiding assemblies or means are provided that allow the dust collector/guard to be guided closer to its support structure to compensate for the grinding elements become smaller as they wear away during the grinding operation.

BACKGROUND

Many buildings have concrete floors and/or walls for structural strengthand stability. Some also include concrete or sinter block and/or stoneconstruction. The floors and walls are formed at the very early stagesof construction well before building mechanical, electrical and plumbingsystems are put in place.

As these and other systems are installed, the floors tend to get fouledwith materials like grout, cement, drywall mud and particles, paintand/or epoxy droppings/spills, etc., which are not easily removed. Inother examples, concrete floors may have high and low spots resulting anuneven or non-flat surface that can obstruct doors and even pose awalking hazard. In order to prepare these floors for finishing, a floorgrinder is applied to remove foreign substances and/or level the unevenspots. This grinding process also exposes clean concrete, which may beuseful for the final finishing material and/or process.

Generally, the grinding process can be performed dry or wet. In eithercase, the grinding process grinds the foreign substances and/or layer ofconcrete into small dust particles. In a dry grinding process, the dustis vacuumed away from the surface by air. In a wet grinding process,water is used to mix with the dust particles and a wet vacuum is used tovacuum away the dirty water. Such vacuuming (dry or wet) of the dustparticles assists in keeping the job site safe and clean.

What is desired are systems and methods of floor grinding that addressesthese and other aspects of preparing surfaces.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods for grinding are provided. In one embodiment,systems and methods for grinding are provided having a floating orself-adjusting dust collector or means. This allows the dust collectoror guard to retract or adjust its position relative its support memberto allow for uninterrupted grinding operations as the grindingelement(s) wear away. Biasing and guiding assemblies or means areprovided that allow the dust collector/guard to be guided closer to itssupport structure to compensate for the grinding elements become smalleras they wear away during the grinding operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, embodiments of the inventions areillustrated, which, together with a general description of theinventions given above, and the detailed description given below, serveto example the principles of the inventions.

FIG. 1 shows of one embodiment of a system and method for grindingsurfaces.

FIGS. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of a grinding assembly.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section perspective view taken along section line A-Aof FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows of another embodiment of a system and method for grindingsurfaces.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view another embodiment of a grinding assembly.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the grinding assembly of FIG.12.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line B-B ofFIG. 12.

FIGS. 15A-C illustrate various embodiments of biasing and/or resilientelements for a grinding assembly.

DESCRIPTION

As described herein, when one or more components are described or shownas being connected, joined, affixed, coupled, attached, or otherwiseinterconnected, such interconnection may be direct as between thecomponents or may be indirect such as through the use of one or moreintermediary components. Also, as described herein, reference to amember, component, or portion shall not be limited to a singlestructural member, component, element, or portion but can include anassembly of components, members, elements, or portions.

Embodiments of the present inventions provide, for example, a floorgrinder having improved dust collection/guard capability. This providesfor better dust collection resulting in a cleaner concrete floor andcleaner and safer job site. Job efficiency is also enhanced because acleaner concrete floor requires less preparation for finishing than adusty concrete floor. Job efficiency is further enhanced because lesstime is needed to clean and clear a job site once the grinding work isdone.

Job efficiency is further enhanced by not having to swap or change thesize, e.g., to shorten, the floor grinder's dust collector and/or guardas the grinding element(s) wear away during use. A longer dust collectorand/or guard was typically used with a new grinding element and, as thegrinding element wore away, that dust collector and/or guard would beginto bear against the floor thereby potentially interfering with thegrinding process. That first-sized dust collector and/or guard wastypically exchanged for a second-sized, and usually shorter, dustcollector and/or guard that would not bear against the floor andtherefore not interfere with the grinding process. This was problematicin that multiple dust collectors and/or guards were needed to be carriedaround and it took time to make the changes when there were required.

It also meant that the dust collector was always changing its positionrelative to the floor as the grinding element wore way. This interferedwith the floor grinder's ability to create a proper vacuum to draw thedust particles. Too large a gap between the dust collector and the floorresulted in a weak vacuum inside the dust collector. Too little a gapresulted in restricted air low within the dust collector therebyreducing the vacuum's ability to draw air and dust particles.

The embodiments of the present inventions provide a grinding assemblyhaving a dust collector and/or guard that does not need to be replacedor modified as the grinding element wears away. The dust collectorand/or guard has a floating or self-adjusting arrangement that allows itto be in its proper position whether the grinding element(s) are new orin a state of wear. This allows for a proper vacuum within the dustcollector to draw dust and other particles without having to replace ormodify the dust collector as the grinding element(s) wear away. Work andjobsite cleanliness, safety and efficiency are thus improved.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is one exemplary embodiment of a grinder in theform a floor grinder 100. A floor grinder is typically used to grind,for example, a concrete floor to remove foreign materials (e.g., paint,primer, epoxy, etc.) that may have attached themselves to the floorduring job site work or to level the floor by grinding down high areas.This provides clean concrete surface that is prepared for finishing work(e.g., tiling, wood, etc.)

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, floor grinder 100 includes a handle bar102, wheels 104, support frame or means 106, and motor 108. Handle bar102 is adjustable and is used to push and direct the floor grinder'smovement. Wheels 104 are mounted on the support frame 106 proximate arearward portion that allows for easy tilting of the floor grinder'sfront portion (e.g., 110) to assist in the floor grinder's movement anddirection. Motor 108 is also mounted on the support frame and providesmechanical power for rotating at least one grinding disc (e.g., see FIG.5, element 500).

Frame 106 includes a head support or means 112 for supporting a grindingassembly 110. Grinding assembly 110 includes, for example, a flexiblehose or tube 114, dust guard 116, brush holder 118, brush 120, and atleast one grinding disc 500 (e.g., see FIG. 5). A vacuum connectortube/port 122 is also provided for connecting the grinding assembly 110to a vacuum source (e.g., wet and/or dry vacuum). In the embodimentshown in FIGS. 1 through 3, an electrical power connector 124 isprovided for connecting motor 108 to a source of AC electrical power. Inother embodiments, motor 108 can be connected to a source of DCelectrical power like a battery. In yet other embodiments, motor 108 maybe in the form of a gasoline engine that is powered from a fuel tank orreservoir mounted to support frame 106.

In the embodiment illustrated, a coolant connector 124 is also provided.In this manner, a coolant such as, for example, water, can be providedto the grinding assembly 110 in order to cool the grinding assembly asit grinds the concrete floor and/or to reduce dusting by allowing thedust to mix with the water. In other embodiments, coolant connector 124may be omitted and the grinding process may be performed dry.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a side elevational view of grinding assembly110 is shown. The assembly 110 includes at least one flexible hose ortube 114 connected to a head support plate or means 400 and on the otherend to dust guard 116. Dust guard 116 includes at least one vacuumport/tube 402 for connection to a vacuum source. Dust guard 116 isfurther connected to brush holder 118 and brushes 120. Brushes 120include, for example, a plurality of flexible bristles that guard orminimize dust escaping from the assembly while also allowing adequateair flow for the vacuum to draw dust out from the assembly throughvacuum port 402. Also shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, a lubricationport 404 and spindle/bearing assembly 406 for rotating grinding disc 500(FIG. 5) and grinding element 408 are provided. Lubrication port 404allows lubricant to be added when needed to ensure that spindle/bearingassembly 406 can rotate smoothly.

In the embodiment shown, grinding assembly 110 also includes a biasingor resilient means/element 410. Biasing or resilient element 410 cantake several forms including, for example, a coil spring, wrapped aroundor integrated into the wall 412 of flexible hose 114. In otherembodiments, biasing or resilient element 410 can take the form of, forexample, an elastomeric material (e.g. polymer, rubber, etc.) that formssome or all of wall 412. In this form, wall 412 itself can act as abiasing or resilient element/means 410. In yet other embodiments,biasing or resilient element 410 can be a leaf spring that flexes tocompress and expand.

Constructed as such, biasing or resilient element 410 can compressand/or expand thereby shortening or extending the length of flexiblehose/tube 114. As shown in FIG. 4, such compression and/or expansionallows dust guard 116 to move closer (i.e., retract) or further away(i.e., expand) from head support plate 400 as represented by arrows 414.Therefore, as the grinding elements (e.g., 408, 502, and/or 504) ofgrinding disc 500 wear away, dust guard 116 (and brush holder 118 andbrushes 120) is correspondingly free to move closer (e.g., up) to headsupport plate 400. This self-adjusting movement as represented by arrows414 allows dust guard 116 (and brush holder 118 and brushes 120) to moveso that the grinding elements (e.g., 408, 502, and/or 504) remain incontact with the surface being ground as they wear away. The user doesnot have to stop the grinding process to exchange (or modify) dust guard116 for a shorter (or different sized) dust guard and does not have tomaintain multiple-sized dust guards for the grinding operation. Thus,grinding assembly 110 has a floating or self-adjusting dust guardassembly.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom perspective view of grinding assembly 110showing one embodiment of grinding disc 500 and grinding elements 408,502, and 504. As described above, as grinding elements 408, 502, and 504grind away, grinding disc 500 moves closer to the floor and dust guard116 (and brush holder 118 and brushes 120) correspondingly move closerto head support plate 400. This floating or self-adjusting movement isprovided by the compression of biasing or resilient member 410 andallows continued grinding of the floor.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate top, exploded, and sectional perspective views,respectively of grinding assembly 110. One exemplary embodiment of aguiding and alignment means or assembly is illustrated for dustcollector 116. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, head support plate 400includes a plurality of apertures 600-606 and dust collector 116includes a plurality of guide apertures 700-706. While four areillustrated for each, less than four can be used such as, for example,three or two. FIG. 8 illustrates that a guide screw or bolt (e.g.,shoulder screw 804, 806) extends through each corresponding pair ofapertures in head support plate 400 and dust collector 116. The guidescrews/bolts each have a long body with a head at one end that includesa large shoulder. The other end that is proximate the head support plate400 is secured with a threaded nut thereto though the arrangement canalso be reversed. The body can be of any shape including, for example,cylindrical, polygonal, elliptical, etc. Dust collector 116 cangenerally move up and down via the guide apertures 700-706 as indicatedby arrows 808 along the body of each guide screw/bolt and can be limitedby the shoulders. As previously described, this guided upward (anddownward) movement of the dust collector 116 occurs under the bias ofbiasing or resilient element 410 to provide a floating or self-adjustingdust collector as the grinding element(s) wear away.

Referring now to the exploded perspective view of FIG. 7, thus collector116 includes a means for connecting biasing or resilient element 410(and flexible hose 116 as may be the case) thereto. Dust collector 116includes an inner top surface 708, outer top surface 712 and acylindrical wall 710 extending from one or the other or both surfaces.In one embodiment, cylindrical wall 710 is sized to form a friction fitwith the biasing or resilient element 410 shown as a coil spring. Thefriction fit is formed between the inner diameter dimension of the coilspring and the outer diameter dimension of the cylindrical wall 710.Other configurations are also possible including reversing the frictionfit arrangement and/or including fasteners to fasten the two componentstogether.

When flexible hose 114 and biasing or resilient element 410 are combined(e.g., as shown in FIG. 7), one end 714 thereof bears against a surfaceof dust connector 116 and the other end 716 thereof bears against and/oris connected to head support plate 400. As previously described, thisallows dust collector 116 to float or self-adjust its position relativeto the head support plate 400 under the bias of biasing or resilientelement 410.

Referring now to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, in one embodimentdust collector 116 is connected to brush holder 118 via slotted frictionfit arrangement. Brush holder 118 includes a slot 800, which can becircumferentially around the body of brush holder 118 or partiallycircumferential at one or locations around the body of brush holder 118.Slot 800 is configured to frictionally receive a portion of the outerwall of dust collector 116 so as to connect the two components together.The body of brush holder 118 also includes a second slot 802, which canbe generally similarly configured to slot 800, for frictionallyreceiving a portion of brush 120 to connect these components together.In alternate embodiments, friction or interference fits may be replacedwith fasteners and/or tongue and groove connectors, keyed slots, orother similar structures.

The dust collector and/or guard thus has a floating or self-adjustingarrangement that allows it to be in its proper position whether thegrinding element(s) are new or in a state of wear. This allows for aproper vacuum within the dust collector to draw dust and other particleswithout having to replace or modify the dust collector to another sizeas the grinding element(s) wear away. Work and jobsite cleanliness,safety and efficiency are accordingly improved.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate another embodiment of a grinding assembly 110attached to a floor grinder 900. This embodiment includes, for example,a grinding assembly having a plurality of grinding discs 500 (e.g., seeFIG. 13). Grinding assembly 110 in this embodiment includes handle bar102, wheels 104, support frame 106, motor 108. Handle bar 102 isadjustable and is used to push and direct the floor grinder's movement.Wheels 104 are mounted on the support frame 106 proximate a rearwardportion that allows for easy tilting of the floor grinder's frontportion (e.g., 110) to assist in the floor grinder's movement anddirection. Motor 108 is also mounted on the support frame and providesmechanical power for rotating at least one grinding disc (e.g., see FIG.13, elements 500) and can be electrical or gasoline powered.

Frame 106 includes a head support 902 for supporting a grinding assembly110. This embodiment of grinding assembly 110 includes, for example, aplurality of flexible hoses or tubes 904 and 906 (having biasing orresilient elements), dust guard 908, brush holder 910, brush 912, and aplurality of grinding discs 500 (e.g., FIG. 13). A vacuum connectortube/port 914 is also provided for connecting the grinding assembly 110to a vacuum source (e.g., wet and/or dry vacuum). In the embodimentshown in FIGS. 9 through 11, motor 108 is in the form of a gasolineengine that is powered from a fuel tank or reservoir mounted to supportframe 106. In other embodiments, an electrical motor can be used, and apower connector can be provided for connecting the motor to a source ofAC electrical power. In yet other embodiments, motor 108 can beconnected to a source of DC electrical power like a battery.

In the embodiment illustrated, a coolant connector 124 is also provided.Coolant such as, for example, water, can be provided to the grindingassembly 110 in order to cool the grinding assembly as it grinds theconcrete floor and/or to reduce dusting by allowing the dust to mix withthe water. In other embodiments, coolant connector 124 may be omittedand the grinding process may be performed dry.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, a perspective and exploded perspectiveviews of the grinding assembly 110 of FIGS. 9-11 is shown. The assemblyincludes a plurality of flexible hoses or tubes 904 and 906 connected toa head support 902 and on the other end to dust guard 908. Dust guard908 includes at least one vacuum port/tube 914 for connection to avacuum source. Dust guard 902 is further connected to brush holder 910and brushes 912. Brushes 912 include, for example, a plurality offlexible bristles that guard or minimize dust escaping from the assemblywhile also allowing adequate air flow for the vacuum to draw dust outfrom the assembly through vacuum port 914.

In the embodiment shown, grinding assembly 110 also includes a biasingor resilient means/elements 1200 that are similar to elements 410 of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-8. For example, biasing or resilient elements 1200can take several forms including, for example, a coil spring, wrappedaround or integrated into the wall of flexible hoses 904 and 906. Inother embodiments, biasing or resilient element 1200 can take the formof, for example, an elastomeric material (e.g. polymer, rubber, etc.)that forms some or all of the tube or hose wall. In this form, the hoseor tube wall itself can act as a biasing or resilient element/means1200. In yet other embodiments, biasing or resilient element 1200 can bea leaf spring that flexes to compress and expand.

Constructed as such, biasing or resilient elements 1200 can compressand/or expand thereby shortening or extending the length of flexiblehoses/tubes 904 and 906. As shown in FIG. 12, such compression and/orexpansion allows dust guard 908 to move closer or further away from headsupport 902 as represented by arrows 1202. Therefore, as the grindingelements (e.g., 502, and/or 504) of grinding discs 500 wear away, dustguard 908 (and brush holder 910 and brushes 912) is correspondingly freeto move closer (e.g., up) to head support structure 902. Thisself-adjusting movement as represented by arrows 1202 allows dust guard908 (and brush holder 910 and brushes 912) to move so that the grindingelements (e.g., 502, and/or 504) remain in contact with the surfacebeing ground as they wear away. As in the previous embodiments, the userdoes not have to stop the grinding process to exchange (or modify) dustguard 908 for a shorter (or different sized) dust guard and does nothave to maintain multiple-sized dust guards for the grinding operation.Thus, this embodiment of grinding assembly 110 also has a floating orself-adjusting dust guard assembly for when multiple grinding discs areused.

Referring now to the exploded perspective view of FIG. 13 and thecross-sectional view of FIG. 14, this embodiment of a grinding assembly110 also includes a guiding and alignment means similar to that of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-8. A plurality of guide screws or bolts (e.g.,shoulder screws 1310-1320) are provided. Each extends through acorresponding pair of apertures in head support 902 and dust collector908. For example, head support plate 1400 includes apertures 1404 anddust collector 908 includes corresponding guide aperture 1402. Aspreviously described, the guide screws/bolts (e.g., see shoulder screws1312 and 1318 in FIG. 14) each have a long body with a head at one endthat includes a large shoulder. The other end that is proximate the headsupport plate 1400 is secured with a threaded nut thereto (though thearrangement can also be reversed). The body can be any shape including,for example, cylindrical, polygonal, elliptical, etc. Dust collector 908can generally move up and down along the body of each guide screw/boltvia the guide apertures (e.g., 1402) and this movement can be limited bythe shoulders. As previously described, this guided upward (anddownward) movement of the dust collector 908 occurs under the bias ofbiasing or resilient elements 1200 to provide a floating orself-adjusting dust collector as the grinding element(s) wear away.

Dust collector 908 includes a means for connecting a plurality ofbiasing or resilient elements 1200 (and flexible hose(s) 904 and 906 asmay be the case) thereto similar to that of the embodiments of FIGS.1-8. The means will be described in connection with biasing or resilientelement 1200 and flexible hose or tube 904 with the understanding thesame description applied to biasing or resilient element 1200 andflexible hose or tube 906. Dust collector 908 includes an inner topsurface 1300, outer top surface 1304 and a cylindrical wall 1302extending from one or the other or both surfaces. In one embodiment,cylindrical wall 1302 is sized to form a friction or interference fitwith the biasing or resilient element 1200 shown as a coil spring 1200.The friction fit is formed between the inner diameter dimension of thecoil spring 1200 and the outer diameter dimension of the cylindricalwall 1302. Other configurations are also possible including reversingthe friction fit arrangement and/or including fasteners to fasten thetwo components together.

When flexible hoses 904 and 906 and biasing or resilient element 1200are respectively combined (e.g., as shown in FIG. 12), one end 1306thereof bears against a surface of dust connector 908 and the other end1308 thereof bears against and/or is connected to head support 902. Aspreviously described, this allows dust collector 908 to float orself-adjust its position relative to the head support 902 under the biasof biasing or resilient elements 1200.

Referring now to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 14, in one embodimentdust collector 908 is connected to brush holder 910 via slotted frictionor interference fit arrangement. Similar to the embodiments of FIGS.1-8, brush holder 910 includes a slot 1406, which can becircumferentially around the body of brush holder 910 or partiallycircumferential at one or locations around the body of brush holder 910.Slot 1406 is configured to frictionally receive a portion of the outerwall of dust collector 908 so as to connect the two components together.The body of brush holder 910 also includes a second slot 1408, which canbe generally similarly configured to slot 1406, for frictionallyreceiving a portion of brush 912 to connect these components together.In alternate embodiments, friction or interference fits may be replacedwith fasteners and/or tongue and groove connectors, keyed slots, orother similar structures.

The dust collector and/or guard 908 of FIGS. 9-14 thus has a floating orself-adjusting arrangement that allows it to be in its proper positionwhether the grinding element(s) of multiple grinding discs are new or ina state of wear. This allows for a proper vacuum within the dustcollector to draw dust and other particles without having to replace (ormodify) the dust collector to another size as the grinding element(s)wear away. Work and jobsite cleanliness, safety and efficiency areaccordingly improved.

FIGS. 15A-C illustrate various embodiments of biasing and/or resilientmembers for a grinding assembly. These embodiments illustrate thebiasing and/or resilient element can be part of the guiding andalignment assembly. FIG. 15A illustrates an embodiment of a biasingand/or resilient element 1500 that is, for example, a coil spring 1500around the body of the one or more shoulder screw/bolt(s) (e.g.,804-806, etc. of FIG. 8 and e.g., 1306-1320 of FIG. 13). Coil spring1500 can extend between head support surface 400 and dust collector 116.Arranged as such, coil spring 1500 exerts a force on dust collector 116as the grinding elements of discs 500 wear away. This force allows dustcollector 116 to float or self-adjust to stay in the proper positionwith respect to the surface being worked on as the grinding elements(e.g., 502, 504, etc.) wear away.

FIG. 15B illustrates another embodiment in the form of a rubber orpolymer resilient sleeve or block 1502. The sleeve or block has acentral opening for receiving the body of a shoulder screw/bolt (e.g.,804-806, etc. of FIG. 8 and e.g., 1306-1320 of FIG. 13). Sleeve or block1502 can extend between head support surface 400 and dust collector 116.So arranged, sleeve or block 1502 when compressed as indicated at 1504pushes back to exert a force on dust collector 116 as the grindingelements of discs 500 wear away. This allows dust collector 116 to floator self-adjust to stay in the proper position with respect to thesurface being worked on as the grinding elements (e.g., 502, 504, etc.)wear away.

FIG. 15C illustrates another embodiment in the form of a leaf spring1506. Leaf spring 1506 can comprise, for example, one or more leavesaround the body of a shoulder screw/bolt (e.g., 804-806, etc. of FIG. 8and e.g., 1306-1320 of FIG. 13). Leaf spring 1506 can extend betweenhead support surface 400 and dust collector 116. Arranged as such, leafspring 1506 when compressed as indicated at 1508 pushes back to exert aforce on dust collector 116 as the grinding elements of discs 500 wearaway. This allows the dust collector 116 to float or self-adjust to stayin the proper position with respect to the surface being worked on asthe grinding elements (e.g., 502, 504, etc.) wear away. In otherembodiments, structures similar to shoulder screw(s)/bolt(s) can be usedincluding for example, elongate rivets, capped or shouldered cylinders(or other elongate body geometries (e.g., polygonal, elliptical, etc.),capped or shouldered telescoping tubular bodies, etc.

While the present inventions have been illustrated by the description ofembodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described inconsiderable detail, it is not the intention of the descriptions torestrict or in any way limit the scope of the disclosure to such detail.Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to thoseskilled in the art. For example, the geometry or structuralconfiguration of many components can be changed and still serve thepurposes described herein. The flexible hoses or tubes do not have to becircular in cross-section but can be any shape including rectangular,square, triangular, elliptical, polygonal, hexagonal, etc. Similarly,the biasing or resilient members do not have to be in a cylindrical coilarrangement but can be a coil of any shape including polygonal,rectangular, square, elliptical, etc. Also, the dust guard does not haveto be circular or cylindrical in cross-section but can be polygonal,rectangular, square, triangular, elliptical, hexagonal, etc. and with orwithout rounded corners. And, as described, the basing or resilientmembers can be integrated into the guiding and alignment assemblyinstead of the flexible hose. Therefore, the inventions, in broaderaspects, are not limited to the specific details, the representativeapparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly,departures can be made from such details without departing from thespirit or scope of the general inventive concept.

What is claimed:
 1. A system for grinding comprising: a support; a dustcollector; and at least one biasing element disposed between the supportand the dust collector to allow the dust collector to move closer to thesupport during grinding operations.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein thebiasing element comprises a spring.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein thebiasing element comprises a coil spring.
 4. The system of claim 1wherein the biasing element comprises a leaf spring.
 5. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the biasing element comprises a spring around a flexiblehose.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the biasing element comprising acoil spring around a flexible hose.
 7. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising a guide assembly disposed between the support and the dustcollector.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the guide assembly comprisesa plurality of elongate bodies between the support and the dustcollector and wherein the dust collector's movement is guided by thebodies.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the dust collector comprises aprojecting wall configured for connecting at least one biasing elementto the dust collector.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the biasingelement bears against a surface of the duct collector.
 11. A system forgrinding comprising: a frame; a header connected to the frame; a dustcollector; at least one grinding element; and at least one biasingelement disposed between the header and the dust collector to allow thedust collector to move relative the header.
 12. The system of claim 11wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring.
 13. The system ofclaim 11 wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring around aflexible hose.
 14. The system of claim 11 wherein the biasing elementcomprises a compressible coil spring.
 15. The system of claim 11 whereinthe dust collector comprises projecting surface configured to contactthe biasing element.
 16. The system of claim 11 further comprising atleast one elongate body disposed between the header and the dustcollector and wherein the dust collector comprises at least one guideaperture so that movement of the dust collector is guided by the atleast one elongate body.
 17. A system for grinding comprising: a supportmeans; a dust collection means; a biasing means disposed between thedust collection means and the support means; and a guide means forguiding movement of the dust collection means relative to the supportmeans.
 18. The system of claim 17 wherein the biasing means is connectedto the dust collection means via an interference fit.
 19. The system ofclaim 17 wherein dust collection means allows the dust collection meansto move closer to the support means during grinding operations.
 20. Thesystem of claim 17 wherein the biasing means compresses as the dustcollection means moves closer to the support means.